Channel fastener with torque inducing element

Abstract

A channel fastener for fastening to an elongate channel element including a washer element, an oblong anchoring element and a connecting element which connects the anchoring element to the washer element, while allowing the anchoring element to rotate with respect to the washer element. The fastener includes a torque-inducing element fixed to the anchoring element and includes at least one resiliently deformable limb arranged substantially offset from the rotational axis of the anchoring element and adapted for a sliding engagement with a flange of the channel element. When the anchoring element is inserted through the longitudinal slot into the channel element, the limb deforms while sliding along the flange towards the interior of the channel element, whereby a torque on the anchoring element is induced, which rotates the anchoring element towards a locking position in which it cannot be retracted through the longitudinal slot of the channel element.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A channel fastener for fastening an object to an elongate channel element having a longitudinal slot defined between flanges,
 wherein the channel fastener comprises:
 a rigid washer element, having a bearing face; 
 an oblong metal anchoring element having a width and a length, wherein the width is smaller than the length, said anchoring element being located on the side of the washer element where the bearing face is located and having longitudinal end portions; 
 a connecting element which connects the anchoring element to the washer element, while allowing the anchoring element to rotate with respect to the washer element, wherein-after a rotation of the anchoring element, the anchoring element is in a locking position; and 
 a torque-inducing element fixed to the anchoring element, the torque-inducing element including at least one resiliently deformable limb arranged substantially offset from a rotational axis of the anchoring element, wherein the at least one resiliently deformable limb in an initial state extends from the anchoring element towards the washer element, wherein the resiliently deformable limb has a proximal end located at the anchoring element and a distal end located against the washer element, and wherein the resiliently deformable limb is adapted for a sliding engagement with at least one of the flanges of the channel element, such that said limb is configured to deform as it passes the flange, by which deformation a torque on the anchoring element is induced, so as to rotate the anchoring element towards the locking position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The channel fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer element has at least one bent edge portion, and wherein, in the initial state, the distal end of the at least one limb engages the washer element at an inner side of the at least one bent edge portion. 
     
     
       3. The channel fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer element has two opposite bent edge portions, and wherein the at least one resiliently deformable limb of the torque-inducing element comprises two resiliently deformable limbs, placed rotationally symmetric with respect to the rotational axis of the anchoring element, wherein the distal ends of the respective limbs engage the washer element at the opposite bent edge portions. 
     
     
       4. The channel fastener according to  claim 3 , wherein the torque-inducing element comprises a support plate which has a surface matching to a side of the anchoring element facing away from the washer element, and at least two gripping fingers connected to longitudinal edges of the support plate adapted to fit around the anchoring element to keep the torque-inducing element located against the anchoring element, wherein the torque-inducing element is made immobile with respect to the anchoring element, and wherein the two resiliently deformable limbs are connected with their proximal ends to the longitudinal edges of the support plate, and are placed radially symmetric with respect to the rotational axis of the support plate. 
     
     
       5. The channel fastener according to  claim 4 , wherein the torque-inducing element is produced as one piece. 
     
     
       6. The channel fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable limb is formed as a wing, wherein the wing is extending from a longitudinal edge of the anchoring element, and wherein the resilient deformation of the wing takes place substantially around the longitudinal edge of the anchoring element. 
     
     
       7. The channel fastener according to  claim 6 , wherein the wing has a quadrilateral shape, positioned along at most one half of the longitudinal edge of the anchoring element and entirely offset from the rotational axis of the anchoring element. 
     
     
       8. The channel fastener according to  claim 6 , wherein the wing has a longitudinal edge and a transverse edge, wherein the longitudinal edge of the wing is positioned along the longitudinal edge of the anchoring element, wherein the transverse edge is oblique with respect to the longitudinal edge, wherein the transverse edge is configured to slide along the flange of the channel element when the anchoring element is inserted through the longitudinal slot into the channel element. 
     
     
       9. The channel fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the torque inducing element is configured and arranged on the anchoring element in such a way that, when the anchoring element is in its locking position in the channel element, the at least one limb extends with the distal end thereof into the longitudinal slot between the flanges of the channel element. 
     
     
       10. The channel fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element is adapted to vary the distance between the washer element and the anchoring element, thus configuring the channel fastener to be clamped on the flanges of the channel element after the anchoring element has rotated in the channel element. 
     
     
       11. The channel fastener according to  claim 10 , wherein the connecting element comprises a spring, fixedly attached to the washer element on one end and fixedly attached to the anchoring element on the other end, wherein the spring is adapted to provide an axial and a rotational spring force. 
     
     
       12. The channel fastener according to  claim 10 , wherein the connecting element comprises a male threaded fastener attached to the anchoring element, passing through a hole in the washer element in which it is freely rotatable, wherein the channel fastener is configured to be clamped on the flanges of the channel element by fastening a nut to the male threaded fastener which is configured to tighten the washer element and the anchoring element around the flanges. 
     
     
       13. The channel fastener according to  claim 10 , wherein the connecting element comprises a bolt, passing through a hole in the washer element in which it is freely rotatable and mating with a threaded hole in the anchoring element, wherein the channel fastener can be clamped on the flanges of the channel element by rotating the bolt, whereby the anchoring element and the washer element are configured to be tightened around the flanges. 
     
     
       14. The channel fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer element is formed as a channel-connector body, and wherein an additional anchoring element is connected to the washer element with the use of an additional connecting element, whereby the channel fastener is adapted to fasten two channel elements with respect to each other. 
     
     
       15. A combination of a channel fastener and a channel element, the channel element having a bottom, an upper side opposite the bottom and lateral walls that interconnect the upper side and the bottom, wherein the upper side includes flanges that extend from the lateral walls towards each other and a longitudinal slot defined between the flanges and having a slot width, and
 the channel fastener comprising:
 a rigid washer element, which has a bearing face that is arranged for resting against the outer side of the flanges of the channel element; 
 an oblong metal anchoring element having a width smaller than the slot width and a length larger than the slot width, said anchoring element being located on the side of the washer element where the bearing face is located and has longitudinal end portions adapted to engage an inner side of the respective flanges of the channel element in a locking position of the anchoring element; 
 a connecting element which connects the anchoring element to the washer element, while allowing the anchoring element to rotate with respect to the washer element, in such a way that while holding the washer element, the channel fastener with its oblong anchoring element can be aligned with the longitudinal slot and the anchoring element can be inserted through the longitudinal slot into the channel element, and that subsequently after a rotation of the anchoring element, the anchoring element is in a locking position, in which it extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal slot; and 
 a torque-inducing element fixed to the anchoring element, the torque-inducing element including at least one resiliently deformable limb arranged substantially offset from a rotational axis of the anchoring element and adapted for a sliding engagement with at least one of the flanges of the channel element, such that when the anchoring element is inserted through the longitudinal slot into the channel element, said limb deforms to pass the flange while sliding along the flange towards the interior of the channel element, whereby a torque on the anchoring element is induced, so as to rotate the anchoring element in the channel element, whereby it is brought in the locking position in which it cannot be retracted through the longitudinal slot; 
 
 
       wherein the at least one resiliently deformable limb in an initial state extends from the anchoring element towards the washer element, wherein the resiliently deformable limb has a proximal end located at the anchoring element and a distal end located against the washer element. 
     
     
       16. The combination according to  claim 15 , wherein the channel element is a strut rail. 
     
     
       17. The combination according to  claim 15 , wherein the washer element has at least one bent edge portion which in a mounted state engages over one of an upper edge of the channel element, such that when the washer element is placed on the flanges of the channel element a rotation of the washer element relative to the channel element is blocked. 
     
     
       18. The combination according to  claim 17 , wherein, in the initial state, the distal end of the at least one limb engages the washer element at an inner side of the at least one bent edge portion. 
     
     
       19. The combination according to  claim 15 , wherein the washer element has two opposite bent edge portions which in a mounted state engage over upper edges of the channel element, such that when the washer element is placed on flanges of the channel element a rotation of the washer element relative to the channel element is blocked. 
     
     
       20. The combination according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one resiliently deformable limb of the torque-inducing element comprises two resiliently deformable limbs, placed rotationally symmetric with respect to the rotational axis of the anchoring element, wherein the distal ends of the respective limbs engage the washer element at the opposite bent edge portions. 
     
     
       21. The combination according to  claim 20 , wherein the torque-inducing element comprises a support plate which has a surface matching to a side of the anchoring element facing away from the washer element, and at least two gripping fingers connected to longitudinal edges of the support plate adapted to fit around the anchoring element to keep the torque-inducing element located against the anchoring element, wherein the torque-inducing element is made immobile with respect to the anchoring element, and wherein the two resiliently deformable limbs are connected with their proximal ends to the longitudinal edges of the support plate, and are placed radially symmetric with respect to the rotational axis of the support plate. 
     
     
       22. The combination according to  claim 21 , wherein the torque-inducing element is produced as one piece from sheet metal or plastic. 
     
     
       23. The channel fastener according to  claim 15 , wherein the resiliently deformable limb is formed as a wing, wherein the wing is extending from a longitudinal edge of the anchoring element, and wherein the resilient deformation of the wing takes place substantially around the longitudinal edge of the anchoring element. 
     
     
       24. The combination according to  claim 23 , wherein the wing has a quadrilateral shape, positioned along at most one half of the longitudinal edge of the anchoring element and entirely offset from the rotational axis of the anchoring element. 
     
     
       25. The combination according to  claim 23 , wherein the wing has a longitudinal edge and a transverse edge, wherein the longitudinal edge of the wing is positioned along the longitudinal edge of the anchoring element, wherein the transverse edge is oblique with respect to the longitudinal edge, wherein the transverse edge slides along the flange of the channel element when the anchoring element is inserted through the longitudinal slot into the channel element. 
     
     
       26. The combination according to  claim 15 , wherein torque inducing element is configured and arranged on the anchoring element in such a way that, when the anchoring element is in its locking position in the channel element, the at least one limb extends with the distal end thereof into the longitudinal slot between the flanges of the channel element. 
     
     
       27. The combination according to  claim 15 , wherein the connecting element is adapted to vary the distance between the washer element and the anchoring element, whereby the channel fastener can be clamped on the flanges of the channel element after the anchoring element has rotated in the channel element. 
     
     
       28. The combination according to  claim 27 , wherein the connecting element comprises a spring, fixedly attached to the washer element on one end and fixedly attached to the anchoring element on the other end, wherein the spring is adapted to provide an axial and a rotational spring force. 
     
     
       29. The combination according to  claim 27 , wherein the connecting element comprises a male threaded fastener attached to the anchoring element, passing through a hole in the washer element in which it is freely rotatable, wherein the channel fastener can be clamped on the flanges of the channel element by fastening a nut to the male threaded fastener which tightens the washer element and the anchoring element around the flanges. 
     
     
       30. The combination according to  claim 27 , wherein the connecting element comprises a bolt, passing through a hole in the washer element in which it is freely rotatable and mating with a threaded hole in the anchoring element, wherein the channel fastener can be clamped on the flanges of the channel element by rotating the bolt, whereby the anchoring element and the washer element are tightened around the flanges. 
     
     
       31. The combination according to  claim 15 , wherein the washer element is formed as a channel-connector body for connecting the channel element to an additional channel element, the bearing face being arranged for resting against the outer side of the flanges of two channel elements, wherein an additional anchoring element connected to the washer element with the use of an additional connecting element, whereby the channel fastener is adapted to fasten two channel elements with respect to each other.